User Roles: Any user with Reporting Tool installed on PC
Last Updated: Nov 07, 2023 10:45 am
Purpose
The Reporting Tool allows you to create custom templates for contracts and letters.
NOTE!
- You will need to create a custom contract template for any Locally-Defined Contract Type (other than Career, Probationary, Temporary, or Part-Time) you wish to print in the Reporting Tool.
- Your LEA's Board Attorney must review any new/revised contract to verify that the contract is valid, complete, sufficient, and enforceable.
- Your LEA's Board Attorney should also review the drafting of official letters.
Formatting Tips
- Do not use Microsoft Word to create or edit a custom template (due to hidden formatting). Use the text editor provided in the Reporting Tool. (If the text editor in the Reporting Tool does not allow for all changes desired (e.g adjusted margins), edit with "WordPad" and save to the template folder.)
- Do not delete the blank lines at the top of the template.
- Do not change the formatting of the lines at the top of the contract or below the Special Conditions.
- When creating a new paragraph, copy an existing paragraph and revise the text.
- A list of data fields are available for contracts and letters. Fields names must display exactly as listed.
Creating a Custom Template
Step 1: Edit the standard template using the text editor provided . The text editing menu options are available in right-side window above the contract document.
- When creating a custom contract, start with a standard template with text similar to the template you wish to create. For example, you may want to start with the Temporary Contract Template to create a locally-defined Contract Template.
Step 2: Click Templates > Save, or click the Save icon, in the text editor toolbar.
Step 3: Enter a descriptive file name and click Save.
Step 5: Click Yes when prompted to create the file.
Using a Custom Template
To print contracts or letters using a custom template, complete the following steps :
Step 1 (Contracts Only): From the Selection Criteria form, select the desired Contract Type and Template. (In this example, "Substitute" is a locally-defined Contract Type.)
Step 2: Click Templates > Load, or click the Open File icon, in the text editor toolbar.
Step 3: Select the desired custom template.
Step 4: Complete the remaining fields on the Selection Criteria form as needed.
Step 5: Click Run.
Editing a Custom Template
Step 1: Click Templates > Load, or click the Open File icon, in the text editor toolbar.
Step 2: Select the template you wish to edit.
Step 3: Edit the text using the text editor provided, keeping in mind the Formatting Tips above.
Step 4: Click Templates > Save (or click the Save icon) in the text editor toolbar.
Step 5: Select the same template you selected in Step 2 and click Save.
Step 6: Click Yes when prompted to replace the existing file.
Managing Custom Templates
Click Templates > Manage to open the default template folder in Windows Explorer (My Documents > Reporting Tool Templates ).
From here, you can copy, rename, and delete existing templates.
To share templates, either copy the templates to the "My Documents > Reporting Tool Templates" folder for a different user, or switch to a shared folder when saving, opening, or managing templates.